Sunday, December 25, 2011

Having a little child changes your perspective on the holidays. You start to realize that things have shifted drastically and now you get to create magic for your children instead of waiting for the magic to happen to you.

This wasn't our first Christmas as parents, but it was the first that our little guy was able to run around with family, enjoy new presents and have a lot of fun. It was the first that we sat in the living room assembling toys on Christmas Eve, hoping that the little guy was thrilled on Christmas morning. It was the first that we saw that look of wonder in his eye as we came down the stairs to see what Santa had left for him.

So now, it's all over. He had a great time. He got some really awesome presents, but more importantly, we made some really fantastic memories as a family. Ones that I hope stay with us forever. So even though my house is mess, I've gained ten pounds and I'm exhausted, I'm so very happy with everything in my world today.

Here are some of my favorite moments from the past two days. I hope everyone else had a magical day...we'll do it all again a year from now.

-Sitting in my father's TV room with my niece who is getting repeated calls from Santa on her little Barbie cell phone.

-Getting updates from my sister's Santa-tracker app as he crossed through Africa and Europe on his way to the States.

-Setting up my son's new toys and things as he slept upstairs, imagining his expression when we came down in the morning.

-My niece looking me in the eye as I fixed her hair, telling me, "I love when you brush my hair."

-Again, my niece looking me in the eye and saying, "You're my friend," as we read stories on her new Dora chair.

-My son deciding that the $2 ball we got as a stocking stuffer was the best toy of the holiday.

-My son and his little cousin running around after each other shouting at each in baby babble and giggling fiercely.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

So about two weeks ago, dear hubby decided it was time to move my boy into his crib. As we'd been going on a two or three week stretch of bad sleep, I wasn't at all opposed to the idea.

As long as we weren't letting him cry it out, I figured this would be good for all of us. The first night he slept for about four hours in the crib, then woke up wanting to nurse. I was about to go to bed myself, so I just brought him with me and called four hours a successful first night.

The second night, I was at work and he went down for hubby without a complaint, and again slept about four hours.

The third night, I cried my eyes out thinking about my big boy and imagining all the various ways he would pull away from me now that he's Mr. Independent Sleeper.

Fast forward to right now...we've had some rough spots and I have had to remind myself that so much of parenting is a one step forward, two step backward kind of process. He is right at this moment napping in the crib. He's been there for about an hour and I expect him to wake up at any moment.

He's only been napping about an hour at a stretch in the crib, so we are attempting to go back to two naps a day to get him the sleep he needs. I'm hoping that once we get naps back to a better and fuller schedule, nighttime sleep will follow and he'll start to see that there's nothing scary about the crib and he can sleep there all night.

In his 14 months of life, he's never once slept through the night, so I'm hoping that the time for that is coming. Of course, that will be the night that I get no sleep as I'll constantly be up to check on him.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

So the news broke today that Michelle Duggar had a miscarriage. I really feel for her. I have friends who have miscarried and I understand that the feelings of loss are just as relevant as losing any other child.

I'm sure they will get dragged through the mud and there'll be lots of comments saying that God is trying to tell them enough already. That may be true, but I just want to say that I'm sad for their loss and I'm sure they are grieving.

I hope they are able to find peace and be content with the family they have.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

A few weeks ago, I made these pumpkin puff pancakes. They were a lot of work, and in all honesty, they didn't even taste that great. A lot of work for pancakes that were only okay...not something I would do twice.

So today, I made these pancakes. I made a few changes to the recipe. They were much easier and very delicious...a total win and I will definitely make them again.

Here is the recipe I made:1 cup flour

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup pumpkin

2 tbsp brown sugar

1/4 tsp each allspice and ground cloves

1/2 tsp each cinnamon and nutmeg

1 tsp vanilla

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

dash of salt

1 egg

Mix everything together and cook over medium heat.

I served them with cinnamon honey butter. I put one on the baby's high chair tray to lure him into the seat, and I turned around again about 10 seconds later and half the pancake was gone...shoved into his mouth. When I took the second half of it away, he acted like I was planning on starving him.